Mountain Plan

Recently, I attended a meeting of the County Board of Supervisors to represent the position of the Green Party Organizing Committee, vis-a-vis the Central Mountain Plan Update. Supervisors, clearly stinging from recent publicity about the plan update, did not want to permit any further public testimony, and Chairman John MacDonald tried several times (rudely) to cut off speakers he deemed to have strayed from the point at hand. The vote on the whole plan was put off until the afternoon session, but it was clear that Supervisor Susan Golding had no support for her reasonable proposal to study the forest systems and hold off development until more is known.

Supervisor Brian Bilbray asserted that since all sides were angry, the board must have reached the proper decision. This is a bankrupt attitude. By pretending to “balance” private property interests against a public interest, Mr. Bilbray will allow the destruction of an entire bio-region forever.

Supervisor George Bailey claimed that the decision was not about “saving the forest” and that people should apply pressure at the state and federal levels to save the forest. He is correct in that pressure should be applied in those directions, but he would ignore or abdicate his responsibility as our representative to act on our behalf.

Mr. Bailey also asserts that the gravest danger to the pristine environment of our backcountry is not development but rather fire. He has no concept of good forest management and the role of fire in the life cycle of forests. To follow his logic to its natural conclusion we could best protect our forest by paving it over.

Supervisor Leon Williams betrayed a depressing lack of knowledge of fundamental issues involved and seemed bewildered at the force of public sentiment in opposition to the Plan Update. He suggested a face-saving written review (with graphics!) of the process, done by the county’s staff, to mollify the public and “correct the record.”

Does it not seem ironic that during a time when many folks (including our esteemed supervisors) are doing whatever they can to preserve an artifact symbolic of the Creator atop Mt. Helix, we will witness the passing into oblivion of a splendid example of the Creation that is draped across our backcountry hills? Maybe if we sneak up on Cuyamaca peak and install a cross . . .

DANIEL TARR, Green Party Organizing Committee, El Cajon